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The Eastern War

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 26, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 49, No. 17.

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The Eastern War.

Such is the heading that has lately taken the place of “The Eastern Question” in many of the political papers, although that war may not formally have commenced. To nearly all human appearances, however, the winds of war are about to be let loose, and ere these lines meet the reader’s eye, the tide of blood may have begun to flow. To the student of prophecy, the moves of the Eastern nations are full of intense interest; and he is anxiously looking for the time when that power whose history was given in advance in Daniel 11 “shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain,” and “shall come to his end” with none to help him; for “at that time shall Michael stand up,” and every one that is “written in the book” “shall be delivered.”
We have gathered the following notes during the week, which show the present state of affairs, and which will enable the reader better to follow the future moves of the nations as they shall become present. The Evening News gives the following summary of the situation up to April 15:—
The Turks Reject the Protocol, and All Hopes of Peace are Abandoned. Both Sides Fully Ready for the Conflict. Hostilities likely to Begin at Any Moment.
The Turkish reply to the protocol is published. The porte is prepared to accord to all the promised reforms, but must carry them out in conformity with the constitution. They cannot have a special or exclusive character. The Turkish government will replace its armies on a peace footing as soon as it shall see Russia take the same step. It protests against the demobilization of the Russian army being made contingent upon internal disturbances in Turkey, as such disturbances Europe knows to be due to outside instigation. The porte sees no necessity that a special envoy go to St. Petersburg to treat on the question of disarmament, as it can be done by a simple telegraphic order.
The most emphatic section of the reply asserts that Turkey cannot permit any foreign supervision or protection over any portion of its subjects. It appeals to the treaty of Paris, but not as giving the empire any rights it did not possess without it, but as showing how vital to the peace of Europe is the maintenance of its rights. It goes on to resent the clause which gives the powers the right of recurring to ulterior measures in the event of Turkey’s delaying to carry out the promised reforms, which it looks on as an attempt to intimidate. It protests, therefore, against the views enunciated in the protocol of March 31, and expresses Turkey’s determination to ignore what has been decided without her and against her, and her firm resolve to retain in the world the place which Providence designed for her. She appeals to the conscience of the cabinets, which she has a right to consider animated toward her with some sentiment of elevated equity and friendship, as in the past. Immediate and simultaneous disarmament would be the only efficacious means of avoiding the dangers by which the general peace is threatened.
Lord Derby has sent a dispatch to the British chargé d’affaires at Constantinople, dated April 12, in which he mentions the Turkish ambassador’s having submitted a copy of the reply to the protocol. He says: “Mussurus Pasha stated that matters could not be settled satisfactorily unless the powers should consent to annul the protocol. I replied that the divergence between the views of the two governments appeared so wide as to render further discussion useless, and I said I could not see what further steps England could take to avert war, which appeared inevitable. Mussurus Pasha answered that the attitude of his government was simply defensive; that they did not desire war, but they would prefer it to the sacrifice of national independence, which appeared to be involved in the acceptance of the protocol.”
Negotiations looking to the prevention of an immediate outbreak of war are going on at Vienna between Russia and the powers.
The London Standard of this morning says that a last appeal is being made to Russia in behalf of peace, but that it has no confidence in its success.
No hope of peaceful settlement is now entertained at Constantinople.
It was reported in Paris last evening that the Russian embassy would leave Constantinople to-day, and that the Russian fleets on the Atlantic and Pacific had been ordered to the Mediterranean.
A vessel is waiting at Constantinople to carry away the Russian embassy the moment it receives orders to that effect.
The Russian newspapers clamor for war. The Turkish generalissimo has gone to the Danube to assume the immediate command.
The czar is about to start for Kischeneff, the head quarters of the army on the Turkish frontier.
It is thought in Pesth that Austria and Hungary will ally themselves with England against Russia.
The Vatican is reported as jubilant over the prospect of a general war.
Persia, taking advantage of the porte’s extremity, has put in a formal claim to Bagdad.
Rumors of prospective internationalist risings in various parts of Europe, chiefly Russia and Poland, are current.
The Greek government is organizing a force of 60,000 men to be ready for service in case of need.
The News gives the following geographical note:—
Kischeneff, or Kichenev, the head-quarters of the Russian army threatening Turkey, is a town of about 40,000 or 50,000 inhabitants, the capital of the Russian province of Bessarabia, on the borders of Roumania. It is 85 miles northwest of Odessa, on the Black Sea, and about 40 miles inside the Russian frontier. It is almost due north of Constantinople, and about 400 miles distant. It is connected with the Russian system of railroads. The river Pruth, which here forms the boundary, is a branch of the Danube, and has a due southerly course, entering the Danube a short distance above its mouth. It is here that the Russians will cross into Turkish territory upon the formal declaration of war, which is expected to be proclaimed this week.
Later advices as received through the week are as follows:—
LONDON, April 16.—Advices from Vienna are to the effect that Austria may be drawn into the war, and will at once be obliged to assume a position of defensive neutrality.
ST. PETERSBURGH, April 16.—The war feeling is intense, and the war bids fair to be the most popular ever undertaken by the Russian government.
The following is from the News of Apr. 17:—
Gen. Ingatieff will accompany the czar to Kischeneff, where they are expected the latter part of this week, when a formal declaration of war is looked for.
Four Russian corps began the march on the 13th to the river Pruth, and two other corps are marching to take their place at Kischeneff.
The question of mobilization is still in suspense in Austria.
It is rumored that Turkey is willing to cede to Austria a portion of Herzegovina.
From the News of the 18th:—
The Russians are marching toward the Roumanian frontier, and it is believed will cross the Pruth without waiting for the formal declaration of war. The czar is expected at Kischeneff on Sunday next, and we shall then certainly have something decisive. It is announced, however, that Russia has dispatched a new circular by special messengers to the various powers, which will probably be presented on Monday. Its purport has not transpired, but it is taken to mean that war is not absolutely decided upon. The Roumanian government is preparing for any emergency by mobilizing its entire military force.
Latest war notes.—Apr. 21.
Prince Charles has issued a decree ordering the mobilization of the Roumanian armies.
Turkey is reported to be dismayed at the prospect of imminent war, and would back out if it were not too late.
The Russian war manifesto says that as every endeavor by the emperor to preserve the peace has failed, owing to the stubbornness of the porte, while the condition of the Christians in the East is unimproved, therefore his majesty, as the natural protector of the Slavonian nations in the east, has been compelled to resolve on obtaining by force of arms such guarantees for his distressed fellow-believers on Turkish soil as appear absolutely necessary for the security of their future welfare. It says that conquest is not aimed at, and that Russia will quit fighting when she secures these guarantees.